Aussies on the back foot
20 November, 2008

Tim Southee A spurned century from Michael Clarke was the only highlight for Australia on day one of the first 3 Mobile Test at the Gabba after New Zealand rolled the home side for 214 in front of 12,498 fans.

Clarke stayed at the crease for almost five hours in a gutsy knock of 98 off 216 balls, but the vice-captain was the only batsman to offer resistance of any real substance to a fired-up Black Caps pace attack that made the most of a lively green pitch.

New Zealand openers Jamie How (two not out) and Aaron Redmond (three not out) had a nervous time seeing out five overs before the umpires offered bad light, but were able to make it through unscathed, with the score 0-7.

Australia's best hope for a wicket came in the fifth over when How survived a very confident lbw appeal from Brett Lee.

Spearheaded by talented youngster Tim Southee, who ripped apart Australia's top order to see the home side crash to a dire 3-23 partway through the first session, New Zealand was well on top when tea was taken with Australia restricted to 7-152.

The visitors then kept the pressure up and it wasn't long before Southee had his fourth victim when keeper Brendon McCullum completed an excellent one-handed diving catch to see Lee back in the stands.

The wickets continued to tumble and NZ captain Daniel Vettori, who earlier won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bowl, came to the party when he deceived Mitchell Johnson.

The score was 9-183 at that stage and Clarke, as he had done for the majority of the match, continued to look at ease while he formed a fighting 31-run stand with Stuart Clark.

His ninth Test match century beckoned, but the medium pace of Jesse Ryder proved too much and he was clean bowled by the part timer.

Southee started the day in fearsome fashion, playing his first Test match against Australia and his third overall, as the rookie put the new ball to good use to see Australia's top three batsmen back in the stands after just over half an hour of play.

Southee was an unexpected starter in the Black Caps XI when he relegated the more experienced Kyle Mills, one of only five players in the New Zealand squad to have played a Test match against Australia, to drinks duty.

He quickly proved selectors right though as he extracted good bounce and movement to clean up Matthew Hayden (eight), Simon Katich (10) and Ricky Ponting (four) in quick succession, en route to claiming innings figures of 4-63 from 18 overs.

Mike Hussey (35) worked hard to rebuild the damage in an important 73-run partnership with Clarke, but his dismissal, when he shouldered arms and was trapped lbw by Chris Martin, was the beginning of the end.

Andrew Symonds (26), Shane Watson (one) and Haddin (six) all departed quick, although Symonds' short but lively stay at the crease was a head-turner.

While his vice-captain was patiently peeling off the runs as he crafted a well-made half-century, Symonds took a more direct approach in his comeback match after a three-month absence for disciplinary reasons.

The all-rounder, after carefully watching 21 deliveries and nudging the ball around, exploded with three consecutive boundaries off all-rounder Grant Elliot's seventh over.

He maintained his aggressive mindset and after presenting Redmond with a tough chance he couldn't grasp, notably grabbed eight runs from one delivery when he and Clarke ran four and the visitors conceded a further four overthrows.


Iain O'Brien was suitably unimpressed but would have the last laugh when two balls later Symonds was caught behind after timidly poking at a sharp delivery.

Soon after, the score was 6-139 when Watson attempted to cut, but instead edged a wider ball from O'Brien, handing the 32-year-old his second wicket for the match.

Haddin then went on the last ball before tea when he could not resist a wider delivery from Ryder.

The wicketkeeper's ill-fated expansive drive resulted in an edge that How calmly accepted at second slip.

Clarke was unaffected by the wickets rapidly falling around him and persisted to play his strokes and keep the score ticking as he personally took the fight up to the New Zealand bowlers and ensured the Australian total would nudge past 200.